2012 LAGI|NYC is now LIVE!

click image to enter

Happy New Year! We're kicking off 2012 by launching the latest design competition with $20,000 in total prize award money. Registration is free and you have until July 1, 2012 to submit your design. Here's a direct link to the official design brief that was just released today: 2012 Design Guidelines

The site is Freshkills Park, New York City's newest public park. At nearly three times the size of Central Park, what once was the world's largest landfill will become the City's largest park. The complete transition will be taking place over the next decades in stages, and the park is designed to be a symbol of sustainable natural ecology within the context of our constructed environment.

Sustainable energy has been included in the conceptual master plan for Freshkills Park from the start. The methane gas that is generated by the landfill below the cap (enough to heat 22,000 homes) is already being sold to a local utility. And the potential for renewable energy generation above the landfill cap is enormous. But this specific context requires special considerations, and the promise of a public park as beautiful amenity creates a unique opportunity to explore creative ways of harnessing natural energy resources.

There have been proposals for wind turbines and solar panels to be installed on the site. But a number of factors may need to be considered before embarking on a standard approach: the proximity to residential neighborhoods, the foundation restrictions of the landfill engineering, the desire to protect the natural environment, birds, and animals, and the promise of Freshkills Park as a place for recreation and enjoyment. We propose that artistic renewable energy installations can provide the perfect answer, by blending utility, beauty, and education, while conforming to the design restrictions of landfill mediation and conserving the local environment.

The monetary prize award to the winners of the 2012 LAGI design competition will not guarantee a commission for construction. LAGI will be working with stakeholders both locally (NYC) and internationally to pursue possibilities for implementation of the most pragmatic and aesthetic of the submitted design proposals.

overview of 2012 competition site boundaries

The site is expansive to allow for maximum creativity. Proposals may cover up to 100 acres and artist teams can choose where to place their design within a 300 acre area (shaded above) that extends over both the North Park and East Park sections of Freshkills Park.

click image to enter the high school edition of LAGI 2012

For the 2012 design competition, the Land Art Generator Initiative has also released a modified design brief document specifically for high school students (those age 19 and under) who are interested in submitting their ideas on how to power New York City with art. There will be a $1,000 prize award dedicated to this category.

Education and outreach is a critical part of the LAGI project. We believe in the power of art and creativity to expand public awareness and inspire the future. As a part of LAGI 2012, we will be holding workshop and panel discussion events in New York City during the summer and fall. Please stay tuned here for more information.

Thanks for your interest in the project and we look forward to reviewing all of the amazing submissions in July!